Orange fire caused by smoking and oxygen tank

Friday

Jan 10, 2014 at 2:44 PMJan 10, 2014 at 10:13 PM

By Jacqueline Reis TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

ORANGE — The fire at a housing complex at 200 East River St. Sunday morning was caused by someone smoking in a home in which there was medical oxygen use, and the blaze came on the same day as another fire caused by the same thing in Hinsdale in Western Mass., according to the state Department of Fire Services.

In a press release, state Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan noted that oxygen from medical tanks soaks into bedding, clothes, hair, furniture and the air and makes things catch fire more easily and burn hotter.

"There is no safe way to smoke inside a house where medical oxygen is in use, but there are other fire risks as well. People should not use electric razors, hair dryers or curling irons while using oxygen, or get within 10 feet of an open flame such as a candle, a gas stove or wood stove," Fire Marshal Coan said.

For more information on safe home oxygen use, go to http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dfs/dfs2/osfm/pubed/fs-topics/fs-topics-a/breathe-easy-using-home-oxygen-safely.html